The construction of a bailey bridge over the Gangri River in Kangpar Gewog of Trashigang was supposed to be complete by September. However, with the pandemic making it difficult to import parts of the bridge, the work still remains incomplete. The Thrimshing Dungkhag Administration has now set the deadline to May next year.
The people of Kangpar Gewog usually use this Gewog centre road to travel outside their gewog. But most of the time, the road remains cut off due to landslides in Peydung, a landslide prone area.
As an alternative, the villagers use route connected by the temporary wooden bridge over the Gangri River. The bridge is also the only way that connects Bedengphu village to the rest of Kangpar Gewog.
The temporary bridge was, however, washed away in summer.
Chenga Lhamo, a Kangpar resident said, “Without a bridge, we can’t cross the river. We face lots of problems. We would be grateful if the bridge is completed before the monsoon season.”
“Without a bridge, we face a lot of difficulties especially when we have sick people who need to be taken to hospital. The farmers here grow vegetables and chillies to make some income. Without the bridge, most of them get damaged and then we don’t have any income,” said another Kangpar resident, Jinpa Gyeltshen.
The Thrimshing Dungkhag tender committee terminated the contract with the private contractor in October after he failed to import the bridge parts.
The construction of the bailey bridge was started in May last year. The contractor was already given a four-month extension.
The Dungkhag Engineer said that most of the works are complete. All that is left now is to fit the parts and launch the bridge over the river. The bailey bridge worth Nu 12 M is being funded by the Indian government.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
Edited by Sangay Chezom
